We NEED YOU & YOUR Vote!
OverthelasttwoyearstheUnionSquareNeighborhoodCouncil(USNC)&Rafi PropertieshavenegotiatedaCommunityBenefitsAgreementfortheneighborhoodas partofSomernova’scampusexpansion Itincludesover100,000squarefeetforthe arts(newindependentmusicvenues,newaffordablemusicrehearsalstudios,newart galleries&artiststudios),Somerville’s 1st privatedevelopmentProjectLaborAgreement toensurefairwages,workers’rights,andequitablelaborpractices,aturn-keyfully fundedcommunitycenter(aka The Dojo),greenspaces&newhousing(including affordableunits).Togetthesebenefits,⅔ofthevotemustbe“yes.”
WHO CAN VOTE? Anyonewholives,works,volunteersorownspropertyintheUSNC catchmentarea (mapincludedbelow)
WHEN CAN I VOTE? Wednesday,June4,2025 7:30AM–7:30PM
WHERE CAN I VOTE? St Anthony’sSchool480SomervilleAvenueSomerville,MA
✅ YES VOTE fortheCBA
✅ CommunityBenefits+10yearsofdevelopment constructionofapprox15MSFofdevelopmentto supportthepreservation&growthofSomerville’sarts, innovationandclimatetecheconomies
�� Arts & Culture
100,000+SFofartsandmusicspaceincluding affordable+purposebuiltartsexhibition,music recording,rehearsalandperformancespace.Music venues&publicartprogram Acuratorialcommitteeto adviseRafiontheprogram.
Community Space
20,000SFofcommunityspaceincludinga12,500SF turnkeyspaceforTheDojofullyfundedbyRafiwith 10-yearsofoperationalsupport ��
�� Jobs & Labor
RafisignedSomerville’s 1st ever private development Project Labor Agreement - fairwages, workers’rights,andequitablelaborpractices.6,000 constructionjobs&4,000permanentjobs $600,000 forjobtraining,andcareeradvancementprograms (First Source + Building Pathways) Approx$45mto SomervilleJobsTrust ��
�� Green & Open Space
Civic&OpenSpaces(parks)includingredesignofThe Alley,14,000SFbetweenMarketBasket&DaneSt PubliclyAccessibleRoofTerraces.Rebuildofstreets&
❌ NO VOTE AGAINSTCBA
❌ Nocommunitybenefits.10 yearsofdevelopment constructionofanas-of-right projectwhichallows12MSFof development.
❌ Noaffordablepurpose-built artsspace.Nomusicrehearsal, recordingandperformance venues.Nocuratorialcommittee.
❌ Nocommunitycenter,no fundingforacommunitycenter andthedojowillshutdown
❌ NofundingforSomerville CommunityCorporation’sFirst Sourceprogram Approx$25m toSomervilleJobsTrust.
❌ Nocivicoropenspace No rebuildorstreetsor streetscapes Nopassivehouse residential.
We NEED YOU & YOUR Vote!
streetscapesonbothsidesofParkSt.ProperziWay andTylerSt Green&Solarroofs PassiveHouse Residential.150+newtrees.100%Nativeplants, usablepublicspaces ��
�� Housing
150newresidentialunits,includes20%affordable units,targeting50%.$500KtoSomervilleCommunity LandTrust;Approx$35mcontributiontoSomerville’s AffordableHousingTrust. ��
�� Equity & Local Business
$250Ktosupportlocalbusinesses.Retailprioritizes BIPOC-,women-,LGBTQIA+ownedshops ��
�� Infrastructure & Utilities
Newstreets,streetscapes&sidewalks Gridlevel electricupgrades.Water,sewerandstormwater separation Newroadbeds,newsidewalks,new landscaping.Undergroundelectricutility.
�� Mobility
CommunitycontrolledMobilityManagementPlan whichmeansthecommunitycanpauseprojectif trafficbecomesproblematic.Freeshuttlesfor residents&tenants,750bikespaces,750parking spots,EV-readyparking,andreal-timecongestion relief ��
�� Transparency & Oversight
IndependentcommitteeestablishedbyUSNC monitorstheproject’sprogressincludingadherenceto CBA,withquarterlyandsemi-annualpublicreports ��
❌ Nohousing.Nocontributions tolocalaffordablehousing non-profits.Approx$15m contributiontoSomerville’s AffordableHousingTrust.
❌ Nosupportforsmall businessesorprotections againstchainretail
❌ Sitespecificutility connections Nonewstreets
❌ Nocommunitycontrolled MobilityManagementPlan.1250 parkingspaces,noshuttle service.
❌ Nooversightcommittee.The projectcanproceedasofright.
If you live, work, volunteer or own property in the area below, you can vote.
